Preventive Care/Exams

Why Annual Exams Matter

In nature, wild cats instinctively hide their illnesses. Any small creature that is weak or ill is attractive to larger predators. Our indoor cats don’t need to worry about being someone’s lunch, but still conceal signs of illness. Often by the time we notice that a cat is not feeling well, their illness may be far advanced!

A physical exam by a skilled veterinarian may reveal early signs of illness. These subtle changes that otherwise might go un-noticed can lead to early diagnosis and effective treatment. Some examples:

Dental cavities and gum disease may lead to painful infections

Weight loss can point to metabolic disease

Heart murmur may indicate heart disease

Also, cats age much faster than we do:

Comparative Ages (years)

Cats

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

20

People

18

25

30

35

40

44

48

52

56

60

63

66

69

72

75

79

83

87

95

When a year passes for us, this can be equivalent to 4-5 years of aging for your cat a lot can change in that amount of time!

Cats Exclusive recommends annual physical examinations for all cats. Senior cats (above 10 years) should have semi-annual senior cat examinations. At the examinations, we will perform a thorough physical examination which will enable us to counsel you on all your cat’s needs.

We believe that your veterinarian is your best source for information on keeping your cat healthy at every age. In addition to finding potential problems, we can advise you on your cat’s nutrition, behavior, and any concerns you may have.

Second Opinions/Consultations

Just as you have to advocate for your own health, your cat may also need you to look further. Our years of experience and study of cat behavior and feline medicine can make us a resource for you and your cat. We often consult with veterinarians in the region on challenging feline cases. If you have a concern for your cat that would benefit from getting a second opinion, we are glad to help. We may be able to help guide you through the processes and procedures needed to diagnose and/or treat your cat. We can work with you to design a therapeutic plan that will best fit you and your cat’s needs.

Diagnostic Testing

Our in-house laboratory gives us important test results when we need to know right away. In-house lab diagnostics include blood, urine, and fecal examinations. We also use outside laboratories for advanced tests and consultation with specialists to provide your cat with fast, accurate, and complete diagnostic information. State-of-the-art digital radiographs (x-rays) help us discover what is going on inside your cat. Images can easily be sent to specialists for additional interpretation.

Microchipping

Microchipping is a simple way to increase the chance that a lost pet finds their way home. A microchip, a plastic pellet about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades. It is a safe, simple procedure, and the chip is painless and non-reactive. The microchip provides a unique identification number that, when scanned, will provide the owner's contact information. We encourage microchipping of all your cats even if they are indoors only. This way, they have a permanent identification marker in case they ever get lost.